The Achieving the Dream initiative addresses a national imperative: to enhance opportunity for the growing number of students for whom community colleges are the point of entry into higher education. The initiative aims to increase the success of community college students, particularly those in groups that have been underserved in higher education, including low income students, first generation college-goers, students of color and others. Data driven decision making will be key to attaining this goal.

Achieving the Dream is funded by the Lumina Foundation for Education and collaborating foundations including Houston Endowment Inc. Houston Community College System and Galveston College were funded in the initial Lumina .foundation grant. In May 2006 the Board of Directors of the Houston Endowment authorized up to $9,000,000 over a period of five years to fund the expansion of this national initiative to support seven additional community colleges and three senior universities in the Houston/Gulf Coast region. San Jacinto College has been selected to participate in this expansion.

Participation will include a one-year $50,000 planning grant from Houston Endowment Inc. to be used to develop the teams required to carry-out the work of the initiative.

These teams will focus on in-depth examinations of data focused on student outcomes, institutional strengths and weaknesses, strategies for improving performance, and the identification of five priority areas for improving student outcomes. The next step will be to integrate the plans and priorities into the planning, budgeting and resource allocation process. In addition to the $50,000 grant, Houston Endowment Inc. will provide a coach, data facilitator, technical advisor, and workshops to assist the core team in fulfilling its mission. Additionally, a Spring Trustee Institute will be required for the San Jacinto College Board of Regents.

In 2007, participants will submit proposals for four-year, $400,000 implementation grants. While the receipt of the planning grant does not guarantee implementation funding, Houston Endowment Inc. has indicated that they hope all institutions will be funded through implementation and they have set aside funds adequate to do so.

http://www.achievingthedream.org/

Dr. Linda Watkins